Group 4 - BAS-8

HW7.1 (group) Presentation observation

Topic: Multitasking
Nguyễn Thị Lan Hương​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Phạm Gia Khiêm
Trần Võ Hồng Như​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Nguyễn Đức Thịnh
Trương Hồng Anh

Part 1: Individual Task

Nguyễn Thị Lan Hương

Multitasking Is a Myth, and to Attempt It Comes at a Neurobiological Cost | Big Think

1.​ What is the central idea of this presentation?

The main idea of ​this presentation explains that multitasking is a myth because the human brain
cannot perform many cognitive tasks at the same time. From the unable to multitask the brain, it
reduces the effect in working and easy to create errors at work.

2.​ What main points does the presentation develop? State them in complete sentences
in parallel form.

The presentation develops four main relevant points:

Main point 1: The human brain is not designed to multitask many works rapidly or switch each
work at the same time.

Main point 2: Task-switching, often mistaken as Multitasking. It makes it easy to make mistakes
and reduces the performance.

Main point 3: Multitasking tries to activate excessive brain that leads to mental fatigue, reducing
productivity.

Main point 4: Neuroscience evidence shows multitasking affecting the brain effectively handling
information, affecting overall performance.
 3.​ What type of attention-grabber does the speaker use? How effective is it? How does
the speaker create the need for the information?
●​ Type of attention-grabber: The speaker uses a provocative statement that declares
“multitasking is a myth,” which challenges the common belief that people can
successfully juggle multiple tasks.
●​ Effectiveness: The person who attracts this attention is highly effective because it
immediately conflicts with a widely accepted concept, curiosity and encouraging viewers
to ask questions about their assumptions about productivity.
●​ How the speaker creates the need for the information: The speaker creates needs by
highlighting the consequences of the real world of multitasking. For example, it reduces
efficiency and increases errors, when people work they work and check emails or view
social networks). By tying the theme into daily experiences and supporting it with
neuroscience, the speaker sets to establish a related thing that understanding this concept
can improve personal performance better.

4.​ What are your reactions to this presentation (benefits and objections)?

Benefits:

●​ The presentation is brief and provides clear information for 3 minutes to help listeners
have time limit to grasp the main message.
●​ Use reliable scientific evidence from experts.
●​ The presenter uses the image (brain diagram) and the rhythm of calm presentation,
certainly increasing the reliability.
●​ Provides a deep view of the reasons for multitasking failure and guide people how to
effectively implement.

Objections:

●​ The presentation lacks specific examples or action strategies to avoid multitasking, which
can make viewers want more practical advice.
 ●​ It assumes the familiarity of the audience with neurological scientific terms such as "the
front of the forehead" but some viewers do not have that foundation.
●​ The briefly of the video limits deeper discovery of criticisms, making it feel a bit on one
side.

Personally, I see the presentation is great. A fascinating storytelling approach has a combination
with scientific evidence that creates a reliability for it.

Trần Võ Hồng Như

What multitasking does to your brain | BBC Ideas

1.​ What is the central idea of this presentation?

The main point of the presentation is that multitasking isn’t as effective as people think because
our brains aren’t made to handle several tasks at the same time. Instead of making us more
productive, it actually hurts performance and makes it easier to miss important details.

2.​ What main points does the presentation develop? State them in complete sentences
in parallel form.

*The presentation develops into five main points:

- Main point 1: Definition and limitations:
+ The term ‘multitasking’ first described how computers work, but the human brain doesn’t
work the same way and can only focus on so much at once.
- Main point 2: How attention works:
+ Attention is like a spotlight that shines on just one thing at a time, so you can’t really focus on
multiple tasks at once.
- Main point 3: Scientific evidence on the limits:
+Experiments show that when people concentrate on one task, they might not notice important
details.
- Main point 4: Consequences of attempting to multitask:
+ Trying to do multiple things at once makes your brain work less efficiently, which can hurt
your performance and make things riskier—like when you talk on the phone while driving.-
Main point 5: Effective alternative:
+ Doing one thing at a time works better and is safer than trying to do many things at once.

3.​ What type of attention-grabber does the speaker use? How effective is it? How does
the speaker create the need for the information?
●​ The speaker starts with a fun experiment to grab attention, asking the audience to count
passes in a ball game. This proves how people can miss unexpected details due to
inattentional blindness.
●​ This approach works really well because it gets the audience involved and lets them see
for themselves how their attention has limits.
●​ The speaker makes people realize they need more information by showing how easily
they miss important things, highlighting the dangers and downsides of multitasking in
daily life.

4.​ What are your reactions to this presentation (benefits and objections)?

- Benefits: The presentation does a great job of explaining the downsides of multitasking using
science and real-life examples. The experiment is fun to watch and clearly shows that our brains
aren’t made for multitasking. Also, the topic is really relevant because a lot of people think
multitasking helps them get more done.

- Objections: The presentation focuses on why multitasking is bad but doesn’t really talk about
situations where it might actually help—like doing something physical (like walking) while also
doing something mental (like listening to a podcast). It would be more balanced if it mentioned
cases where multitasking could work well in certain situations.

Trương Hồng Anh

 Can You Really Multitask?

1.​ What is the central idea of this presentation?

The presentation confirms that people cannot really multitask effectively. Instead, the
brain can only switch quickly between tasks, which reduces productivity, increases errors,
and stress.

2.​ What main points does the presentation develop? State them in complete sentences
in parallel form.

Main Point 1: Multitasking is not about doing multiple tasks simultaneously, but about
constantly switching between them.

Main Point 2: This continuous task-switching wastes time and mental energy, leading to lower
performance and more errors.

Main Point 3: Scientific studies show that multitasking reduces memory and focus.

Main Point 4: The best solution is single-tasking, focusing on one task at a time to improve
work quality.

3.​ What type of attention-grabber does the speaker use? How effective is it? How does
the speaker create the need for the information?

Attraction: The video could start with a simple question like, "Do you think you're good at
multitasking?" with images showing the mess of trying to multitask, like a desk full of papers, a
phone ringing nonstop, and a computer with too many tabs open.

Effectiveness: This approach catches the viewer’s attention and makes them think about their
own experiences. Almost everyone has tried to do too many things at once and ended up feeling
stressed or not getting much done. By showing this common struggle, it helps viewers connect
with the message and realize they might be dealing with the same problem without even
realizing it.

Creating the need for information: The speaker could share research like "Multitasking can
lower productivity by 40%" to show why it’s important to change this habit, helping viewers see
that it’s something they need to fix now.
 4.​ What are your reactions to this presentation (benefits and objections)?

Benefits: The presentation gives clear and simple scientific information about the negative
effects of multitasking, making it easy for everyone to understand. It also offers a practical
solution (single-tasking) that viewers can start using in their daily lives right away, helping them
be more productive.

Objections:

-​ The presentation doesn’t provide specific examples of how to apply single-tasking in

situations where multitasking may seem necessary, such as dealing with urgent tasks at
work.
-​ It also doesn’t mention any tools or techniques that could help improve focus, like time
management apps, which could support viewers in practicing single-tasking more
effectively.

Phạm Gia Khiêm

Try the Myth of Multitasking Exercise! | Updated Version of Multitask Test ​

Central Idea: The central idea of Dave Crenshaw’s presentation, "The Myth of Multitasking", is
that multitasking is a misconception, and attempting to do multiple tasks at once reduces
productivity and efficiency rather than enhancing them.

Main Points:

1.​ Multitasking leads to "switch-tasking," which slows down performance and increases
mistakes.
2.​ The brain cannot effectively focus on multiple tasks at once, resulting in cognitive
overload.
3.​ Constant multitasking reduces the ability to focus and complete tasks efficiently.
4.​ Single-tasking and time management strategies lead to better productivity and improved
work quality.
 5.​ Organizations and individuals benefit from minimizing distractions and focusing on one
task at a time.

Attention-Grabber and Effectiveness: Dave Crenshaw begins his presentation with an

engaging question that challenges the audience’s belief in multitasking. This rhetorical approach
is highly effective as it immediately captures the audience’s attention and encourages them to
reflect on their own habits. By presenting a common assumption and then questioning it, he
creates curiosity and interest.

Creating the Need for Information: Crenshaw highlights real-life scenarios where people
believe they are multitasking efficiently but are actually losing time and making more mistakes.
He supports his argument with research and relatable examples, making the audience realize the
personal and professional impact of ineffective multitasking. This strategy establishes the
relevance and importance of the topic.

Reactions to the Presentation:

●​ Benefits: The presentation effectively debunks the myth of multitasking and provides
valuable insights into improving productivity. Crenshaw’s use of real-world examples
and research-based findings makes his argument compelling and practical. The talk is
also well-structured and easy to understand, making it accessible to a wide audience.
●​ Objections: While Crenshaw makes a strong case against multitasking, some tasks may
require partial attention to multiple activities, such as managing communications in
fast-paced environments. Some audience members might feel that certain situations
demand multitasking, even if it is not optimal.

Nguyễn Đức Thịnh

Humans and multitasking - How much can we do simultaneously? | DW Documentary

1.What is the central idea of this presentation?

The central idea of the presentation "Humans and Multitasking – How Much Can We Do
Simultaneously?" is that while many people believe they can efficiently perform multiple tasks at
once, research shows that multitasking significantly reduces productivity and cognitive
effectiveness.

2.What main points does the presentation develop? State them in complete sentences in
parallel form.

Main point 1: The human brain is not designed for true multitasking; instead, it rapidly switches
between tasks, which leads to mental fatigue.

Main point 2: Attempting to multitask decreases efficiency, as the brain takes time to refocus
after each switch, resulting in lower overall productivity.

Main point 3: Multitasking can negatively affect memory retention and learning because divided
attention prevents deep cognitive processing.

Main point 4: The illusion of productivity in multitasking creates a false sense of

accomplishment, leading people to believe they are getting more done than they actually are.

Main point 5:Reducing multitasking and focusing on one task at a time leads to better
performance, improved accuracy, and reduced stress levels.

5.​ What type of attention-grabber does the speaker use? How effective is it? How does
the speaker create the need for the information?

Attention-Grabber:​
The speaker begins with a real-life scenario, asking the audience to imagine performing two
mentally demanding tasks at the same time, such as driving while texting. This relatable example
immediately captures the audience's attention and demonstrates the dangers of multitasking. The
attention-grabber is highly effective because it presents a situation many people have
experienced, making them more likely to engage with the topic.
Creating the Need for Information:​
The speaker highlights common misconceptions about multitasking and reveals scientific
findings that challenge these beliefs. By showing the gap between what people assume and what
research proves, the speaker creates a strong need for the audience to reconsider their work
habits and adopt more effective strategies.

5.​ What are your reactions to this presentation (benefits and objections)?

Benefits: The presentation effectively dispels the myth that multitasking enhances productivity.
It provides valuable insights backed by scientific research, helping viewers understand how to
improve their focus and efficiency. The use of real-life examples and studies makes the
information practical and applicable to daily life.​
Objections: Some viewers may argue that certain types of multitasking, such as listening to
music while exercising, do not negatively affect performance. Additionally, in fast-paced work
environments, employees may feel pressured to multitask despite the drawbacks. Addressing
these nuances could make the presentation even more comprehensive.

Part 2: Group task

The presentation is very successful because it conveys the meaning of multitasking to the
audience. Each speaker of each video has different ways of transmission but still brief and
convey enough content to the listener. They use attention-grabbing techniques such as scientific
research and practical examples to connect with the audience and increase the reliability of the
presentation. In addition, the way to communicate smoothly and use the sentence is easy to
understand to help the audience follow the presentation more easily. Finally, the speakers offer
optimal solutions to help listeners better understand multitasking. In summary, from the way of
communicating information, linking evidence and using practical examples to connect with the
audience has helped the above presentations become more careful.